A smartphone would give Amazon a
wider range of low-priced hardware devices that bolster its strategy of
making money from digital books, songs and movies. Photographer: Chris
Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. (2038), the Chinese mobile-
phone maker, is working with Amazon on the device, said one of
the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are
private. Amazon is seeking to complement the smartphone strategy
by acquiring patents that cover wireless technology and would
help it defend against allegations of infringement, other people
with knowledge of the matter said.